MWC Assembly on-site attendance numbers grow

Indonesia lifts COVID-19 travel restrictions opening the door for more international guests to attend MWC Assembly

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In 2015 the global Anabaptist/Mennonite gathering was held in the United States. In 2022, the Mennonite World Conference Assembly will be held in Indonesia. Photo: MWC

The 2022 Mennonite World Conference Assembly, to be held July 5-10 in Salatiga, Indonesia, just got a little bit larger. The National Advisory Committee for Assembly 17 and the executive committee of MWC has raised attendance numbers for the gathering in Indonesia to 1250.

COVID-19 cases in Indonesia remain low so the Indonesian government has lifted quarantine restrictions for travelers.

“We would love to see you in Indonesia,” says Liesa Unger, chief international events officer. “Please register now! It is not yet too late to make travel plans. Anyone can register until we reach the limit. Our registration team is happy to put in the extra effort to facilitate these late registrations and General Council arrangements.”

If gathering sizes are increased later, more local participants may join the July 10 closing worship service at Holy Stadium.

The expanded number of participants also allows for the General Council to take place onsite instead of online.

“Mennonite World Conference is a communion – that means we are in a deep, spiritual, unifying relationship with one another,” says César García, general secretary. “The discernment work of the General Council is best done where we can spend time with each other, fellowshipping not only in sessions but also over meals and in leisure outside of meetings.”

The Commissions will also attend Assembly and hold face-to-face meetings.

“Without a doubt, our time in Indonesia will be a blessing for our global communion,” says García.

Assembly is a global gathering of Anabaptists and Mennonites, happening only once every six years. During this week-long fellowship, participants worship together and celebrate common roots, study the Bible with Anabaptists/Mennonite brothers and sisters from around the world and celebrate the diversity in the global family of faith.

The 2022 Assembly will be the first MWC global gathering to be offered in a hybrid model. Participants who register as online guests will have access to a virtual hub, the “home-base” of online Assembly. Through the hub participants will enter into the virtual Assembly world.

The hub will offer access to daily plenaries as live stream, hybrid and online workshops and discussions, vlogs and exhibits of MWC related organization, concerts, children and youth activities. Online events will stay in the virtual hub for several weeks, so participants can go back and re-visit the sessions at another time.

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